Communication via a magnio

ABSTRACT

A system includes a transmitting device and a receiving device. The transmitting device includes a first processor configured to transmit data to a transmitter and the transmitter. The transmitter is configured to transmit the data via a magnetic field. The receiving device includes a magnetometer configured to detect the magnetic field and a second processor configured to decipher the data from the detected magnetic field.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/003,677 filed Jan. 21, 2016, titled“COMMUNICATION VIA A MAGNIO”, which claims benefit of and priority toU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/261,643 filed Dec. 1, 2015,titled “DIAMOND NITROGEN VACANCY PACKET MAGNETIC RADIO,” both of whichare incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates, in general, to magnetic communication.More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a diamond nitrogenvacancy magnio.

BACKGROUND

The following description is provided to assist the understanding of thereader. None of the information provided or references cited is admittedto be prior art. Information can be transmitted over the air using radiowaves. For example, information can be coded into bits of 1s and 0s. Aradio wave can be modulated in a manner that represents the series of 1sand 0s. A transmitter can receive the radio waves and decode the 1s and0s to replicate the information. However, communication using radiowaves is not perfect. Thus, communicating via alternative methods can bebeneficial.

SUMMARY

An illustrative system includes a transmitting device and a receivingdevice. The transmitting device may include a first processor configuredto transmit data to a transmitter and the transmitter. The transmittermay be configured to transmit the data via a magnetic field. Thereceiving device may include a magnetometer configured to detect themagnetic field and a second processor configured to decipher the datafrom the detected magnetic field.

An illustrative method includes receiving, at a first processor, dataand transmitting, by the transmitter, the data via a magnetic field. Themethod may also include detecting, by a magnetometer, the magneticfield. The method may further include receiving, by a second processor,an indication of the magnetic field from the magnetometer anddeciphering, by the second processor, the data form the indication ofthe magnetic field.

An illustrative device includes a processor and a transmitter. Theprocessor may be configured to receive a stream of data and encode thestream of data into a plurality of streams of data. The transmitter maybe configured to receive the plurality of streams of data and transmitthe plurality of streams of data simultaneously via a plurality ofmagnetic fields. Each of the plurality of streams may be transmitted viaa corresponding one of the plurality of magnetic fields.

An illustrative device includes a magnetometer configured tosimultaneously measure the magnitude of a modulated magnetic field in aplurality of directions. The device may further include a processoroperatively coupled to the magnetometer. The processor may be configuredto receive, from the magnetometer, a time-varying signal correspondingto the modulated magnetic field and determine a plurality oftransmission channels based on the time-varying signal. The processormay be further configured to monitor the plurality of transmissionchannels to determine data transmitted on each of the plurality oftransmission channels.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be inany way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments,and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and featureswill become apparent by reference to the following drawings and thedetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are graphs illustrating the frequency response of a DNVsensor in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 2A is a diagram of NV center spin states in accordance with anillustrative embodiment.

FIG. 2B is a graph illustrating the frequency response of a DNV sensorin response to a changed magnetic field in accordance with anillustrative embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a magnetic communication system inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show the strength of a magnetic field versus frequencyin accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a computing device in accordance with anillustrative embodiment.

The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the following description and appended claims, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with thedisclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of itsscope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity anddetail through use of the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless contextdictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in thedetailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting.Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made,without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matterpresented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of thepresent disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated inthe figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in awide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitlycontemplated and make part of this disclosure.

Radio waves can be used as a carrier for information. Thus, atransmitter can modulate radio waves at one location, and a receiver atanother location can detect the modulated radio waves and demodulate thesignals to receive the information. Many different methods can be usedto transmit information via radio waves. However, all such methods useradio waves as a carrier for the information being transmitted.

However, radio waves are not well suited for all communication methods.For example, radio waves can be greatly attenuated by some materials.For example, radio waves do not generally travel well through water.Thus, communication through water can be difficult using radio waves.Similarly, radio waves can be greatly attenuated by the earth. Thus,wireless communication through the earth, for example for coal or othermines, can be difficult. It is often difficult to communicate wirelesslyvia radio waves from a metal enclosure. The strength of a radio wavesignal can also be reduced as the radio wave passes through materialssuch as walls, trees, or other obstacles. Additionally, communicationvia radio waves is widely used and understood. Thus, secretcommunication using radio waves requires complex methods and devices tomaintain the secrecy of the information.

According to some embodiments described herein, wireless communicationis achieved without using radio waves as a carrier for information.Rather, modulated magnetic fields can be used to transmit information.For example, a transmitter can include a coil or inductor. When currentpasses through the coil, a magnetic field is generated around the coil.The current that passes through the coil can be modulated, therebymodulating the magnetic field. Accordingly, information converted into amodulated electrical signal (e.g., the modulated current through thecoil) can be used to transfer the information into a magnetic field. Amagnetometer can be used to monitor the magnetic field. The modulatedmagnetic field can, therefore, be converted into traditional electricalsystems (e.g., using current to transfer information). Thus, acommunications signal can be converted into a magnetic field and aremote receiver (e.g., a magnetometer) can be used to retrieve thecommunication from the modulated magnetic field.

A diamond with a nitrogen vacancy (DNV) can be used to measure amagnetic field. DNV sensors generally have a quick response to magneticfields, consume little power, and are accurate. Diamonds can bemanufactured with nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in the lattice structureof the diamond. When the NV centers are excited by light, for examplegreen light, and microwave radiation, the NV centers emit light of adifferent frequency than the excitation light. For example, green lightcan be used to excite the NV centers, and red light can be emitted fromthe NV centers. When a magnetic field is applied to the NV centers, thefrequency of the light emitted from the NV centers changes.Additionally, when the magnetic field is applied to the NV centers, thefrequency of the microwaves at which the NV centers are excited changes.Thus, by shining a green light (or any other suitable color) through aDNV and monitoring the light emitted from the DNV and the frequencies ofmicrowave radiation that excite the NV centers, a magnetic field can bemonitored.

NV centers in a diamond are oriented in one of four spin states. Eachspin state can be in a positive direction or a negative direction. TheNV centers of one spin state do not respond the same to a magnetic fieldas the NV centers of another spin state. A magnetic field vector has amagnitude and a direction. Depending upon the direction of the magneticfield at the diamond (and the NV centers), some of the NV centers willbe excited by the magnetic field more than others based on the spinstate of the NV centers.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are graphs illustrating the frequency response of a DNVsensor in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. FIGS. 1A and 1Bare meant to be illustrative only and not meant to be limiting. FIGS. 1Aand 1B plot the frequency of the microwaves applied to a DNV sensor onthe x-axis versus the amount of light of a particular frequency (e.g.,red) emitted from the diamond. FIG. 1A is the frequency response of theDNV sensor with no magnetic field applied to the diamond, and FIG. 1B isthe frequency response of the DNV sensor with a seventy gauss (G)magnetic field applied to the diamond.

As shown in FIG. 1A, when no magnetic field is applied to the DNVsensor, there are two notches in the frequency response. With nomagnetic field applied to the DNV sensor, the spin states are notresolvable. That is, with no magnetic field, the NV centers with variousspin states are equally excited and emit light of the same frequency.The two notches shown in FIG. 1A are the result of the positive andnegative spin directions. The frequency of the two notches is the axialzero field splitting parameter.

When a magnetic field is applied to the DNV sensor, the spin statesbecome resolvable in the frequency response. Depending upon theexcitation by the magnetic field of NV centers of a particular spinstate, the notches corresponding to the positive and negative directionsseparate on the frequency response graph. As shown in FIG. 1B, when amagnetic field is applied to the DNV sensor, eight notches appear on thegraph. The eight notches are four pairs of corresponding notches. Foreach pair of notches, one notch corresponds to a positive spin state andone notch corresponds to a negative spin state. Each pair of notchescorresponds to one of the four spin states of the NV centers. The amountby which the pairs of notches deviate from the axial zero fieldsplitting parameter is dependent upon how strongly the magnetic fieldexcites the NV centers of the corresponding spin states.

As mentioned above, the magnetic field at a point can be characterizedwith a magnitude and a direction. By varying the magnitude of themagnetic field, all of the NV centers will be similarly affected. Usingthe graph of FIG. 1A as an example, the ratio of the distance from 2.87GHz of one pair to another will remain the same when the magnitude ofthe magnetic field is altered. As the magnitude is increased, each ofthe notch pairs will move away from 2.87 GHz at a constant rate,although each pair will move at a different rate than the other pairs.

When the direction of the magnetic field is altered, however, the pairsof notches do not move in a similar manner to one another. FIG. 2A is adiagram of NV center spin states in accordance with an illustrativeembodiment. FIG. 2A conceptually illustrates the four spin states of theNV centers. The spin states are labeled NV A, NV B, NV C, and NV D.Vector 201 is a representation of a first magnetic field vector withrespect to the spin states, and Vector 202 is a representation of asecond magnetic field vector with respect to the spin states. Vector 201and vector 202 have the same magnitude, but differ in direction.Accordingly, based on the change in direction, the various spin stateswill be affected differently depending upon the direction of the spinstates.

FIG. 2B is a graph illustrating the frequency response of a DNV sensorin response to a changed magnetic field in accordance with anillustrative embodiment. The frequency response graph illustrates thefrequency response of the DNV sensor from the magnetic fieldcorresponding to vector 201 and to vector 202. As shown in FIG. 2B, thenotches corresponding to the NV A and NV D spin states moved closer tothe axial zero field splitting parameter from vector 201 to vector 202,the negative (e.g., lower frequency notch) notch of the NV C spin statemoved away from the axial zero field splitting parameter, the positive(e.g., high frequency notch) of the NV C spin state stayed essentiallythe same, and the notches corresponding to the NV B spin state increasedin frequency (e.g., moved to the right in the graph). Thus, bymonitoring the changes in frequency response of the notches, the DNVsensor can determine the direction of the magnetic field.

Additionally, magnetic fields of different directions can be modulatedsimultaneously and each of the modulations can be differentiated oridentified by the DNV sensor. For example, a magnetic field in thedirection of NV A can be modulated with a first pattern, a magneticfield in the direction of NV B can be modulated with a second pattern, amagnetic field in the direction of NV C can be modulated with a thirdpattern, and a magnetic field in the direction of NV D can be modulatedwith a fourth pattern. The movement of the notches in the frequencyresponse corresponding to the various spin states can be monitored todetermine each of the four patterns.

However, in some embodiments, the direction of the magnetic fieldcorresponding to the various spin states of a DNV sensor of a receivermay not be known by the transmitter. In such embodiments, by monitoringat least three of the spin states, messages transmitted on two magneticfields that are orthogonal to one another can be deciphered. Similarly,by monitoring the frequency response of the four spin states, messagestransmitted on three magnetic fields that are orthogonal to one anothercan be deciphered. Thus, in some embodiments, two or three independentsignals can be transmitted simultaneously to a receiver that receivesand deciphers the two or three signals. Such embodiments can be amultiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system. Diversity in thepolarization of the magnetic field channels provides a full rank channelmatrix even through traditionally keyhole channels. In an illustrativeembodiment, a full rank channel matrix allows MIMO techniques toleverage all degrees of freedom (e.g., three degrees of polarization).Using a magnetic field to transmit information circumvents the keyholeeffect that propagating a radio frequency field can have.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a magnetic communication system inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment. An illustrative magniosystem 300 includes input data 305, a 310, a transmitter 345, amodulated magnetic field 350, a magnetometer 355, a magnio receiver 360,and output data 395. In alternative embodiments, additional, fewer,and/or different elements may be used.

In an illustrative embodiment, input data 305 is input into the magniosystem 300, transmitted wirelessly, and the output data 395 is generatedat a location remote from the generation of the input data 305. In anillustrative embodiment, the input data 305 and the output data 395contain the same information.

In an illustrative embodiment, input data 305 is sent to the magniotransmitter 310. The magnio transmitter 310 can prepare the informationreceived in the input data 305 for transmission. For example, the magniotransmitter 310 can encode or encrypt the information in the input data305. The magnio transmitter 310 can send the information to thetransmitter 345.

The transmitter 345 is configured to transmit the information receivedfrom the magnio transmitter 310 via one or more magnetic fields. Thetransmitter 345 can be configured to transmit the information on one,two, three, or four magnetic fields. That is, the transmitter 345 cantransmit information via a magnetic field oriented in a first direction,transmit information via a magnetic field oriented in a seconddirection, transmit information via a magnetic field oriented in a thirddirection, and/or transmit information via a magnetic field oriented ina fourth direction. In some embodiments in which the transmitter 345transmits information via two or three magnetic fields, the magneticfields can be orthogonal to one another. In alternative embodiments, themagnetic fields are not orthogonal to one another.

The transmitter 345 can be any suitable device configured to create amodulated magnetic field. For example, the transmitter 345 can includeone or more coils. Each coil can be a conductor wound around a centralaxis. For example, in embodiments in which the information istransmitted via three magnetic fields, the transmitter 345 can includethree coils. The central axis of each coil can be orthogonal to thecentral axis of the other coils.

The transmitter 345 generates the modulated magnetic field 350. Themagnetometer 355 can detect the modulated magnetic field 350. Themagnetometer 355 can be located remotely from the transmitter 345. Forexample, with a current of about ten Amperes through a coil (e.g., thetransmitter) and with a magnetometer magnetometer 355 with a sensitivityof about one hundred nano-Tesla, a message can be sent, received, andrecovered in full with several meters between the transmitter andreceiver and with the magnetometer magnetometer 355 inside of a Faradaycage. The magnetometer 355 can be configured to measure the modulatedmagnetic field 350 along three or four directions. As discussed above, amagnetometer 355 using a DNV sensor can measure the magnetic field alongfour directions associated with four spin states. The magnetometer 355can transmit information, such as frequency response information, to themagnio receiver 360.

The magnio receiver 360 can analyze the information received from themagnetometer 355 and decipher the information in the signals. The magnioreceiver 360 can reconstitute the information contained in the inputdata 305 to produce the output data 395.

In an illustrative embodiment, the magnio transmitter 310 includes adata packet generator 315, an outer encoder 320, an interleaver 325, aninner encoder 330, an interleaver 335, and an output packet generator340. In alternative embodiments, additional, fewer, and/or differentelements may be used. The various components of the magnio transmitter310 are illustrated in FIG. 3 as individual components and are meant tobe illustrative only. However, in alternative embodiments, the variouscomponents may be combined. Additionally, the use of arrows is not meantto be limiting with respect to the order or flow of operations orinformation. Any of the components of the magnio transmitter 310 can beimplemented using hardware and/or software.

The input data 305 can be sent to the data packet generator 315. In anillustrative embodiment, the input data 305 is a series or stream ofbits. The data packet generator 315 can break up the stream of bits intopackets of information. The packets can be any suitable size. In anillustrative embodiment, the data packet generator 315 includesappending a header to the packets that includes transmission managementinformation. In an illustrative embodiment the header can includeinformation used for error detection, such as a checksum. Any suitableheader may be used. In some embodiments, the input data 305 is notbroken into packets.

The stream of data generated by the data packet generator 315 can besent to the outer encoder 320. The outer encoder 320 can encrypt orencode the stream using any suitable cypher or code. Any suitable typeof encryption can be used such as symmetric key encryption. In anillustrative embodiment, the encryption key is stored on memoryassociated with the magnio transmitter 310. In an illustrativeembodiment, the magnio transmitter 310 may not include the outer encoder320. For example, the messages may not be encrypted. In an illustrativeembodiment, the outer encoder 320 separates the stream into multiplechannels. In an illustrative embodiment, the outer encoder outer encoder320 performs forward error correction (FEC). In some embodiments, theforward error correction dramatically increases the reliability oftransmissions for a given power level.

In an illustrative embodiment, the encoded stream from the outer encoder320 is sent to the interleaver 325. In an illustrative embodiment, theinterleaver 325 interleaves bits within each packet of the stream ofdata. In such an embodiment, each packet has the same bits, but the bitsare shuffled according to a predetermined pattern. Any suitableinterleaving method can be used. In an alternative embodiment, thepackets are interleaved. In such an embodiment, the packets are shuffledaccording to a predetermined pattern. In some embodiments, the magniotransmitter 310 may not include the interleaver 325.

In some embodiments, interleaving data can be used to prevent loss of asequence of data. For example, if a stream of bits are in sequentialorder and there is a communication loss during a portion of the stream,there is a relatively large gap in the information corresponding to thelost bits. However, if the bits were interleaved (e.g., shuffled), oncethe stream is de-interleaved (e.g., unshuffled) at the receiver, thelost bits are not grouped together but are spread across the sequentialbits. In some instances, if the lost bits are spread across the message,error correction can be more successful in determining what the lostbits were supposed to be.

In an illustrative embodiment, the interleaved stream from theinterleaver 325 is sent to the inner encoder 330. The inner encoder 330can encrypt or encode the stream using any suitable cypher or code. Anysuitable type of encryption can be used such as symmetric keyencryption. In an illustrative embodiment, the encryption key is storedon memory associated with the magnio transmitter 310. In an illustrativeembodiment, the magnio transmitter 310 may not include the inner encoder330. In an illustrative embodiment, the inner encoder 330 and the outerencoder 320 perform different functions. For example, the inner encoder330 can use a deep convolutional code and can perform most of theforward error correction, and the outer encoder can be used to correctresidual errors and can use a different coding technique from the innerencoder 330 (e.g., a block-parity based encoding technique).

In an illustrative embodiment, the encoded stream from the inner encoder330 is sent to the interleaver 335. In an illustrative embodiment, theinterleaver 335 interleaves bits within each packet of the stream ofdata. In such an embodiment, each packet has the same bits, but the bitsare shuffled according to a predetermined pattern. Any suitableinterleaving method can be used. In an alternative embodiment, thepackets are interleaved. In such an embodiments, the packets areshuffled according to a predetermined pattern. In an illustrativeembodiment, interleaving the data spreads out burst-like errors acrossthe signal, thereby facilitating the decoding of the message. In someembodiment, the magnio transmitter 310 may not include the interleaver335.

In an illustrative embodiment, the interleaved stream from theinterleaver 335 is sent to the output packet generator 340. The outputpacket generator 340 can generate the packets that will be transmitted.For example, the output packet generator 340 may append a header to thepackets that includes transmission management information. In anillustrative embodiment the header can include information used forerror detection, such as a checksum. Any suitable header may be used.

In an illustrative embodiment, the output packet generator 340 appends asynchronization sequence to each of the packets. For example, asynchronization sequence can be added to the beginning of each packet.The packets can be transmitted on multiple channels. In such anembodiment, each channel is associated with a unique synchronizationsequence. The synchronization sequence can be used to decipher thechannels from one another, as is discussed in greater detail below withregard to the magnio receiver 360.

In an illustrative embodiment, the output packet generator 340 modulatesthe waveform to be transmitted. Any suitable modulation can be used. Inan illustrative embodiment, the waveform is modulated digitally. In someembodiments, minimum shift keying can be used to modulate the waveform.For example, non-differential minimum shift key can be used. In anillustrative embodiment, the waveform has a continuous phase. That is,the waveform does not have phase discontinuities. In an illustrativeembodiment, the waveform is sinusoidal in nature.

In an illustrative embodiment, the modulated waveform is sent to thetransmitter 345. In an illustrative embodiment, multiple modulatedwaveforms are sent to the transmitter 345. As mentioned above, two,three, or four signals can be transmitted simultaneously via magneticfields with different directions. In an illustrative embodiment, threemodulated waveforms are sent to the transmitter 345. Each of thewaveforms can be used to modulate a magnetic field, and each of themagnetic fields can be orthogonal to one another.

The transmitter 345 can use the received waveforms to produce themodulated magnetic field 350. The modulated magnetic field 350 can be acombination of multiple magnetic fields of different directions. Thefrequency used to modulate the modulated magnetic field 350 can be anysuitable frequency. In an illustrative embodiment, the carrier frequencyof the modulated magnetic field 350 can be 10 kHz. In alternativeembodiments, the carrier frequency of the modulated magnetic field 350can be less than or greater than 10 kHz. In some embodiments, thecarrier frequency can be modulated to plus or minus the carrierfrequency. That is, using the example in which the carrier frequency is10 kHz, the carrier frequency can be modulated down to 0 Hz and up to 20kHz. In alternative embodiments, any suitable frequency band can beused.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show the strength of a magnetic field versus frequencyin accordance with an illustrative embodiment. FIGS. 4A and 4B are meantto be illustrative only and not meant to be limiting. In some instances,the magnetic spectrum is relatively noisy. As shown in FIG. 4A, thenoise over a large band (e.g., 0-200 kHz) is relatively high. Thus,communicating over such a large band may be difficult. FIG. 4Billustrates the noise over a smaller band (e.g., 1-3 kHz). As shown inFIG. 4B, the noise over a smaller band is relatively low. Thus,modulating the magnetic field across a smaller band of frequencies canbe less noisy and more effective. In an illustrative embodiment, themagnio transmitter 310 can monitor the magnetic field and determine asuitable frequency to modulate the magnetic fields to reduce noise. Thatis, the magnio transmitter 310 can find a frequency that has a highsignal to noise ratio. In an illustrative embodiment, the magniotransmitter 310 determines a frequency band that has noise that is belowa predetermined threshold.

In an illustrative embodiment, the magnio receiver 360 includes thedemodulator 365, the de-interleaver 370, the soft inner decoder 375, thede-interleaver 380, the outer decoder 385, and the output data generator390. In alternative embodiments, additional, fewer, and/or differentelements may be used. For example, the magnio receiver 360 can includethe magnetometer 355 in some embodiments. The various components of themagnio receiver 360 are illustrated in FIG. 3 as individual componentsand are meant to be illustrative only. However, in alternativeembodiments, the various components may be combined. Additionally, theuse of arrows is not meant to be limiting with respect to the order orflow of operations or information. Any of the components of the magnioreceiver 360 can be implemented using hardware and/or software.

The magnetometer 355 is configured to measure the modulated magneticfield 350. In an illustrative embodiment, the magnetometer 355 includesa DNV sensor. The magnetometer 355 can monitor the modulated magneticfield 350 in up to four directions. As illustrated in FIG. 2A, themagnetometer 355 can be configured to measure the magnetometer 355 inone or more of four directions that are tetrahedronally arranged. Asmentioned above, the magnetometer 355 can monitor n+1 directions where nis the number of channels that the transmitter 345 transmits on. Forexample, the transmitter 345 can transmit on three channels, and themagnetometer 355 can monitor four directions. In an alternativeembodiment, the transmitter 345 can transmit via the same number ofchannels (e.g., four) as directions that the magnetometer 355 monitors.

The magnetometer 355 can send information regarding the modulatedmagnetic field 350 to the demodulator 365. The demodulator 365 cananalyze the received information and determine the direction of themagnetic fields that were used to create the modulated magnetic field350. That is, the demodulator 365 can determine the directions of thechannels that the transmitter 345 transmitted on. As mentioned above,the transmitter 345 can transmit multiple streams of data, and eachstream of data is transmitted on one channel. Each of the streams ofdata can be preceded by a unique synchronization sequence. In anillustrative embodiment, the synchronization sequence includes 1023bits. In alternative embodiments, the synchronization sequence includesmore than or fewer than 1023 bits. Each of the streams can betransmitted simultaneously such that each of the channels aretime-aligned with one another. The demodulator 365 can monitor themagnetic field in multiple directions simultaneously. Based on thesynchronization sequence, which is known to the magnio receiver 360, thedemodulator 365 can determine the directions corresponding to thechannels of the transmitter 345. When the streams of synchronizationsequences are time-aligned, the demodulator 365 can monitor themodulated magnetic field 350 to determine how the multiple channelsmixed. Once the demodulator 365 determines how the various channels aremixed, the channels can be demodulated.

For example, the transmitter 345 transmits on three channels, with eachchannel corresponding to an orthogonal direction. Each channel is usedto transmit a stream of information. For purposes of the example, thechannels are named “channel A,” “channel B,” and “channel C.” Themagnetometer 355 monitors the modulated magnetic field 350 in fourdirections. The demodulator 365 can monitor for three signals inorthogonal directions. For purposes of the example, the signals can benamed “signal 1,” “signal 2,” and “signal 3.” Each of the signals cancontain a unique, predetermined synchronization sequence. Thedemodulator 365 can monitor the modulated magnetic field 350 for thesignals to be transmitted on the channels. There is a finite number ofpossible combinations that the signals can be received at themagnetometer 355. For example, signal 1 can be transmitted in adirection corresponding to channel A, signal 2 can be transmitted in adirection corresponding to channel B, and signal 3 can be transmitted ina direction corresponding to channel C. In another example, signal 2 canbe transmitted in a direction corresponding to channel A, signal 3 canbe transmitted in a direction corresponding to channel B, and signal 1can be transmitted in a direction corresponding to channel C, etc. Themodulated magnetic field 350 of the synchronization sequence for each ofthe possible combinations that the signals can be received at themagnetometer 355 can be known by the demodulator 365. The demodulator365 can monitor the output of the magnetometer 355 for each of thepossible combinations. Thus, when one of the possible combinations isrecognized by the demodulator 365, the demodulator 365 can monitor foradditional data in directions associated with the recognizedcombination. In another example, the transmitter 345 transmits on twochannels, and the magnetometer 355 monitors the modulated magnetic field350 in three directions.

The demodulated signals (e.g., the received streams of data from each ofthe channels) is sent to the de-interleaver 370. The de-interleaver 370can undo the interleaving of the interleaver 335. The de-interleavedstreams of data can be sent to the soft inner decoder 375, which canundo the encoding of the inner encoder 330. Any suitable decoding methodcan be used. For example, in an illustrative embodiment the innerencoder 330 uses a three-way, soft-decision turbo decoding function. Inan alternative embodiment, a two-way, soft-decision turbo decodingfunction may be used. For example, the expected cluster positions forsignal levels are learned by the magnio receiver 360 during thesynchronization portion of the transmission. When the payload/dataportion of the transmission is processed by the magnio receiver 360,distances from all possible signal clusters to the observed signal valueare computed for every bit position. The bits in each bit position aredetermined by combining the distances with state transitionprobabilities to find the best path through a “trellis.” The paththrough the trellis can be used to determine the most likely bits thatwere communicated.

The decoded stream can be transmitted to the de-interleaver 380. Thede-interleaver 380 can undo the interleaving of the interleaver 325. Thede-interleaved stream can be sent to the outer decoder 385. In anillustrative embodiment, the outer decoder 385 undoes the encoding ofthe outer encoder 320. The unencoded stream of information can be sentto the output data generator 390. In an illustrative embodiment, theoutput data generator 390 undoes the packet generation of data packetgenerator 315 to produce the output data 395.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a computing device in accordance with anillustrative embodiment. An illustrative computing device 500 includes amemory 510, a processor 505, a transceiver 515, a user interface 520,and a power source 525. In alternative embodiments, additional, fewer,and/or different elements may be used. The computing device 500 can beany suitable device described herein. For example, the computing device500 can be a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a smartphone, aspecialized computing device, etc. The computing device 500 can be usedto implement one or more of the methods described herein.

In an illustrative embodiment, the memory 510 is an electronic holdingplace or storage for information so that the information can be accessedby the processor 505. The memory 510 can include, but is not limited to,any type of random access memory (RAM), any type of read only memory(ROM), any type of flash memory, etc. such as magnetic storage devices(e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strips, etc.), optical disks(e.g., compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD), etc.), smartcards, flash memory devices, etc. The computing device 500 may have oneor more computer-readable media that use the same or a different memorymedia technology. The computing device 500 may have one or more drivesthat support the loading of a memory medium such as a CD, a DVD, a flashmemory card, etc.

In an illustrative embodiment, the processor 505 executes instructions.The instructions may be carried out by a special purpose computer, logiccircuits, or hardware circuits. The processor 505 may be implemented inhardware, firmware, software, or any combination thereof. The term“execution” is, for example, the process of running an application orthe carrying out of the operation called for by an instruction. Theinstructions may be written using one or more programming language,scripting language, assembly language, etc. The processor 505 executesan instruction, meaning that it performs the operations called for bythat instruction. The processor 505 operably couples with the userinterface 520, the transceiver 515, the memory 510, etc. to receive, tosend, and to process information and to control the operations of thecomputing device 500. The processor 505 may retrieve a set ofinstructions from a permanent memory device such as a ROM device andcopy the instructions in an executable form to a temporary memory devicethat is generally some form of RAM. An illustrative computing device 500may include a plurality of processors that use the same or a differentprocessing technology. In an illustrative embodiment, the instructionsmay be stored in memory 510.

In an illustrative embodiment, the transceiver 515 is configured toreceive and/or transmit information. In some embodiments, thetransceiver 515 communicates information via a wired connection, such asan Ethernet connection, one or more twisted pair wires, coaxial cables,fiber optic cables, etc. In some embodiments, the transceiver 515communicates information via a wireless connection using microwaves,infrared waves, radio waves, spread spectrum technologies, satellites,etc. The transceiver 515 can be configured to communicate with anotherdevice using cellular networks, local area networks, wide area networks,the Internet, etc. In some embodiments, one or more of the elements ofthe computing device 500 communicate via wired or wirelesscommunications. In some embodiments, the transceiver 515 provides aninterface for presenting information from the computing device 500 toexternal systems, users, or memory. For example, the transceiver 515 mayinclude an interface to a display, a printer, a speaker, etc. In anillustrative embodiment, the transceiver 515 may also includealarm/indicator lights, a network interface, a disk drive, a computermemory device, etc. In an illustrative embodiment, the transceiver 515can receive information from external systems, users, memory, etc.

In an illustrative embodiment, the user interface 520 is configured toreceive and/or provide information from/to a user. The user interface520 can be any suitable user interface. The user interface 520 can be aninterface for receiving user input and/or machine instructions for entryinto the computing device 500. The user interface 520 may use variousinput technologies including, but not limited to, a keyboard, a stylusand/or touch screen, a mouse, a track ball, a keypad, a microphone,voice recognition, motion recognition, disk drives, remote controllers,input ports, one or more buttons, dials, joysticks, etc. to allow anexternal source, such as a user, to enter information into the computingdevice 500. The user interface 520 can be used to navigate menus, adjustoptions, adjust settings, adjust display, etc.

The user interface 520 can be configured to provide an interface forpresenting information from the computing device 500 to externalsystems, users, memory, etc. For example, the user interface 520 caninclude an interface for a display, a printer, a speaker,alarm/indicator lights, a network interface, a disk drive, a computermemory device, etc. The user interface 520 can include a color display,a cathode-ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasmadisplay, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, etc.

In an illustrative embodiment, the power source 525 is configured toprovide electrical power to one or more elements of the computing device500. In some embodiments, the power source 525 includes an alternatingpower source, such as available line voltage (e.g., 120 Voltsalternating current at 60 Hertz in the United States). The power source525 can include one or more transformers, rectifiers, etc. to convertelectrical power into power useable by the one or more elements of thecomputing device 500, such as 1.5 Volts, 8 Volts, 12 Volts, 24 Volts,etc. The power source 525 can include one or more batteries.

In an illustrative embodiment, any of the operations described hereincan be implemented at least in part as computer-readable instructionsstored on a computer-readable memory. Upon execution of thecomputer-readable instructions by a processor, the computer-readableinstructions can cause a node to perform the operations.

The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates differentcomponents contained within, or connected with, different othercomponents. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures aremerely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can beimplemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense,any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality iseffectively “associated” such that the desired functionality isachieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve aparticular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each othersuch that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective ofarchitectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components soassociated can also be viewed as being “operably connected,” or“operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality,and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewedas being “operably couplable,” to each other to achieve the desiredfunctionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but arenot limited to physically mateable and/or physically interactingcomponents and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interactingcomponents and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactablecomponents.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, termsused herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of theappended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “atleast one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use ofdefinite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, evenif a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitlyrecited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitationshould typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in generalsuch a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that haveA alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive wordand/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood toinclude the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.” Further, unlessotherwise noted, the use of the words “approximate,” “about,” “around,”“substantially,” etc., mean plus or minus ten percent.

The foregoing description of illustrative embodiments has been presentedfor purposes of illustration and of description. It is not intended tobe exhaustive or limiting with respect to the precise form disclosed,and modifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteachings or may be acquired from practice of the disclosed embodiments.It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claimsappended hereto and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving, at a first processor, data, wherein the data comprises a plurality of data streams with unique synchronization sequences therein; transmitting, by the transmitter, the data via a magnetic field, wherein each of the data streams is simultaneously transmitted on a respective one of a plurality of channels, and wherein each of the plurality of channels comprises a unique direction of the magnetic field; detecting, by a magnetometer, the magnetic field; generating, by the magnetometer, a signal indicative of the detected magnetic field; receiving, by a second processor, the signal indicative of the magnetic field from the magnetometer; monitoring, by the second processor, the signal for a plurality of combinations of the unique synchronization sequences, wherein each of the combinations comprises one of the unique synchronization sequences on a respective one of the plurality of channels; and deciphering, by the second processor, the data from the detected magnetic field based at least in part on an identification of one of the plurality of combinations of the unique synchronization sequences on the plurality of channels.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising encoding the data into a plurality of second data streams, wherein said receiving the data comprises receiving the data in a first data stream, and wherein said transmitting the data comprises transmitting each of the second data streams on one of a plurality of channels.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of channels comprises one of a plurality of magnetic fields, and wherein each of the plurality of magnetic fields is orthogonal to one another.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein said detecting the magnetic field comprises detecting the magnetic field in a plurality of directions.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the plurality of directions are orthogonal to one another.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the signal indicative of the magnetic field comprises a plurality of signals from the magnetometer, wherein each of the plurality of signals corresponds to one of the plurality of directions, wherein said deciphering the data comprises deciphering each of the plurality of second data streams from the plurality of signals, and wherein the method further comprises de-interleaving, by the second processor, the plurality of second data streams to determine the data.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels is two channels, and wherein each of the two channels corresponds to one of two magnetic fields.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said detecting the magnetic field comprises detecting the magnetic field in three directions.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels is three channels, and wherein each of the three channels corresponds to one of three magnetic fields.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said detecting the magnetic field comprises detecting the magnetic field in four directions.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving the data comprises receiving a first data stream comprising the data, the method further comprising: interleaving the data into a plurality of second data streams; and appending a unique synchronization sequence stream to each of the plurality of second data streams to form a plurality of third data streams, and wherein transmitting the data comprises transmitting each of the third data streams on one of the plurality of channels.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the third data streams are transmitted simultaneously.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting the magnetic field comprises detecting the magnetic field in a plurality of directions that are orthogonal to one another, wherein the signal indicative of the magnetic field comprises a plurality of signals from the magnetometer, wherein each of the plurality of signals corresponds to one of the plurality of directions, and wherein deciphering the data comprises: deciphering each of the plurality of third data streams from the plurality of signals by detecting the unique syncrhonization sequence stream; and de-interleaving the plurality of third data streams together to determine the data.
 14. The method of claim 1, further comprising digitally modulating, by the first processor, the magnetic field.
 15. The method of claim 1, further comprising modulating the magnetic field using minimum shift keying.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the magnetic field does not comprise phase discontinuities.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetometer comprises a diamond with a nitrogen vacancy. 